A Journey Through Medieval Baking, Halloween Traditions & a Recipe Worth Reviving
Before pillowcases filled with candy and bowls of chocolate bars, there was another kind of Halloween treat. It was small, warmly spiced, and given not just to satisfy a sweet tooth, but to remember those who had passed before us.
Welcome back to Not Your Grams Kitchen, where we believe every recipe has a story, every kitchen holds a little history, and some of the most wonderful traditions are the ones we bring back to life.
When we think of Halloween, we often picture jack-o’-lanterns, caramel apples, candy corn, and children hurrying from door to door shouting, “Trick or treat!”
But tucked away in the pages of culinary history is a much older tradition: the soul cake.
These little spiced cakes have a fascinating connection to Halloween, remembrance, charity, and the simple act of sharing food with another person. And today, we’re bringing them into our kitchen with a traditional-style recipe and a special Not Your Grams Kitchen twist.
So, put the kettle on, warm up the oven, and let’s travel back in time.
A Little History: What Exactly Is a Soul Cake?
Soul cakes are small, round, lightly sweetened cakes that resemble a cross between a biscuit and a tender shortbread. Traditional versions often included flour, butter, sugar, warming spices, and dried fruits such as currants or raisins. Some recipes incorporated oats, too.
Their story reaches back to medieval England, where the days surrounding Halloween were associated with All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2.
These observances were connected with honoring saints, remembering the departed, and praying for the souls of the dead.
By around 1400, written references to soul cakes were already appearing, although the custom was described as an older tradition even then.
The cakes weren’t simply a seasonal sweet. They played a part in a practice known as souling.
Souling: A Tradition of Food, Faith, and Generosity
During the medieval period, and in some communities for centuries afterward, poorer people would visit the homes of wealthier neighbors around Allhallowtide, the period associated with Halloween and the days that followed.
They might sing, recite verses, or offer prayers for the souls of the household’s deceased relatives in exchange for soul cakes.
The practice varied from place to place, but its central idea was simple: food was given, prayers were offered, and a community maintained its bonds through an act of generosity.
Imagine a small village in autumn. The evenings are growing colder, the harvest has been gathered, and the smell of baking drifts from cottage windows. A plate of freshly made cakes is set aside for visitors, each little cake representing a tradition passed from one household to another.
It is a lovely reminder that food has always been about more than nourishment. It can express remembrance, kindness, faith, and belonging.
Historians often describe souling as a possible forerunner of modern trick-or-treating. Although today’s Halloween customs developed through several different traditions, the resemblance is easy to appreciate: people going from door to door and receiving something special in return.
Now, that’s a bit of Halloween history worth sharing over a cup of tea!
What Did Soul Cakes Taste Like?
We cannot know the exact taste of every medieval soul cake. Recipes changed over time and differed between households and regions.
Historical descriptions and later recipes point toward modest, spiced baked goods, sometimes made with oats and often flavored with dried fruit.
Think of the comforting flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, with little bursts of sweetness from currants or raisins.
They weren’t meant to be elaborate confections. Their charm was in their simplicity.
And isn’t that one of the loveliest things about old-fashioned cooking? A handful of ordinary ingredients, a little time, and something delicious to share.
Of course, here at Not Your Grams Kitchen, we can’t resist adding our own little touch.
Let’s begin with a traditional-style soul cake, then give it a modern autumn makeover with brown butter and orange.
Recipe No. 1: Traditional-Style Soul Cakes
Small, warmly spiced cakes inspired by historic English recipes.
Makes: Approximately 18–24 cakes, depending on cutter size
Prep time: 20 minutes
Chilling time: 20–30 minutes
Baking time: 15–20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/3 cup (65–70 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/3 cup (about 50 g) dried currants or raisins
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1–2 tablespoons milk, as needed
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon rolled oats, optional
Instructions
1. Prepare the oven.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the dry ingredients.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and optional oats.
3. Work in the butter.
Add the cold butter and rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
4. Add the fruit.
Stir in the currants or raisins, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture.
5. Bring the dough together.
Add the egg yolk and one tablespoon of milk. Mix gently until a soft dough forms, adding the second tablespoon of milk only if necessary. The dough should hold together without becoming sticky.
6. Chill the dough.
Wrap or cover the dough and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes. This makes it easier to roll and helps the cakes keep their shape.
7. Shape your soul cakes.
Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to approximately 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick. Cut into rounds using a 2–2 1/2-inch cutter.
Using a knife, score a shallow cross into the top of each cake. The cross is a traditional decorative feature associated with soul cakes.
8. Bake.
Arrange the cakes on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set.
9. Cool and serve.
Let the cakes rest on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Allow them to cool before serving.
Enjoy them with a cup of black tea, warm cider, or your favorite autumn beverage.
Gram’s kitchen tip: These cakes are meant to be modestly sweet. If you prefer a softer, more cookie-like texture, avoid adding too much extra flour when rolling the dough.
Recipe No. 2: Not Your Grams Kitchen’s Brown Butter & Orange Soul Cakes
Because every old recipe deserves a little adventure.
This is our modern interpretation of the traditional soul cake. Brown butter adds a lovely toasted, nutty flavor, while fresh orange zest brightens the warm spices and dried fruit.
The result is a fragrant autumn treat that feels both old-fashioned and wonderfully fresh.
Makes: Approximately 18–24 cakes
Prep time: 25 minutes
Chilling time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 15–20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup (65–70 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Finely grated zest of 1 medium orange
- 1/3 cup (about 50 g) dried currants
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1–2 tablespoons milk, as needed
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Brown the butter.
Place the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Let it melt, foam, and gradually develop golden-brown flecks, stirring frequently. When it smells nutty and the milk solids turn amber, remove it from the heat immediately.
Transfer the butter, including the flavorful browned bits, to a heatproof bowl. Let it cool until soft and opaque but not completely hard.
2. Prepare the oven.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Combine the dry ingredients.
Whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and orange zest in a large bowl.
4. Add the butter.
Work the cooled brown butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
5. Add the currants and egg.
Stir in the currants, then mix in the egg yolk and one tablespoon of milk. Add a little more milk only if needed to bring the dough together.
6. Chill.
Cover and refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes, or until firm enough to roll. Because browned butter contains less water than regular butter, the dough may need that extra touch of milk.
7. Roll and shape.
Roll the dough to approximately 1/4 inch thick and cut into rounds. Score a shallow cross into the top of each cake.
8. Bake.
Bake for 15–20 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden. Avoid overbaking; the cakes will firm as they cool.
9. Cool and enjoy.
Allow the cakes to cool on the tray for five minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.
Optional Orange Glaze
For a sweeter finish, mix:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 teaspoons fresh orange juice
Drizzle lightly over the completely cooled cakes. The glaze is our modern addition, not a claim about a traditional medieval preparation.
Serve these with hot apple cider or a pot of Earl Grey tea. The brown butter, orange, and warm spices make a particularly lovely combination.
A Few Ways to Make These Cakes Your Own
- Apple and spice: Add a pinch of allspice and serve with warm apple compote.
- Cranberry and orange: Replace the currants with finely chopped dried cranberries.
- Honey and oat: Replace a small portion of the sugar with honey, keeping in mind that the dough may need a little extra flour.
- A little chocolate: Add a small handful of mini dark chocolate chips for a distinctly modern treat.
If you’re baking with children, let them cut out the rounds and mark the crosses. It is a wonderful opportunity to talk about how different generations celebrated the changing seasons.
How to Serve Soul Cakes
Soul cakes are lovely on their own, but they also make a charming addition to an autumn gathering.
Arrange them on a rustic wooden board with sliced apples, a small bowl of dried fruit, and a pot of tea. For a Halloween dessert table, pair them with spiced cider, gingerbread, or baked apples.
You could even make a small batch for neighbors and friends, sharing the story of the cakes alongside the treats themselves.
After all, a recipe becomes part of a tradition when we make it, share it, and tell someone why it matters.
A Tradition Worth Remembering
It is easy to think of Halloween as a holiday built around costumes, decorations, and sweets. But the story of soul cakes reminds us that the season once held a different kind of significance.
There were prayers for loved ones, gestures of charity, and the belief that even a small offering could bring people together.
The original meaning of the cakes may not be part of everyone’s Halloween today, and traditions have changed considerably over the centuries. Yet the idea of sharing food and remembering those who came before us still feels familiar.
Perhaps that’s why these little cakes deserve another place at our tables.
They don’t require fancy ingredients or complicated techniques. They simply ask us to slow down, make something with our hands, and share a little of what we’ve made.
And that, to me, is a tradition worth keeping.
❤️ A Little Gram’s Kitchen Notes
Now, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about old-fashioned recipes, it’s that they have a way of bringing the past into the present.
A recipe doesn’t have to be hundreds of years old to become a family tradition. Sometimes all it takes is one afternoon in the kitchen, a little flour on the counter, and someone standing beside you asking if they can have the first one.
That’s how memories begin.
When you make these soul cakes, don’t worry about making every one perfectly round or every cross perfectly straight. The beauty of homemade baking has never been perfection. It’s the care we put into it and the people we share it with.
If you try the brown butter and orange version, I hope you’ll enjoy the little twist. And if you make the traditional-style cakes, perhaps you’ll imagine the many hands that have shaped similar treats across the centuries.
This October, let’s remember that the sweetest Halloween traditions aren’t always wrapped in shiny paper. Sometimes they’re tucked into a simple little cake, fresh from the oven, waiting to be shared.
Until next time, keep your kitchen warm, your stories close, and a little something sweet ready for someone who comes through your door.
With love from Not Your Grams Kitchen.
